Photographs by Timothy P. Riethmiller
By Jeff Yoder
The Taylor men's basketball team took the 20th-ranked Bethel Pilots to the wire on Tuesday night as the Trojans fell just short in a 68-65 losing effort.
The Trojans were in control in the first half until the final two minutes. With a 29-22 lead and 2:14 to play, Bethel strung together eight unanswered on its way to a 32-31 halftime edge.
Bethel seemingly had the game under control with a 63-54 lead and just 54 seconds to play. However, seniors Casey Coons and Tommy Peller were determined to make one last push.
Peller drew a foul on a 3-pointer and sunk all three free throws to bring the score to 63-57. Two missed Bethel free throws and another Coons three made it 63-60 in favor of Bethel with 37 ticks left.
The Trojans' defensive pressure immediately stifled the Pilots as they drew a charge on Bethel's Ryan Benner. Coons got fouled on a 3-point attempt and it somehow seemed the Trojans were destined to make the comeback. After hitting two of three, the Trojans trailed 63-62.
Bethel knocked down it's next four free throws to take a 67-62 advantage before Coons hit yet another triple and the Trojans fouled with just two seconds remaining. Bethel's Matt Schauss connected on just one free throw leaving a glimmer of hope for the Trojans as Coons got off a prayer from over halfcourt that wouldn't fall.
Coons had a game-high 28 points with eight 3-pointers. Junior Ben Raichel added 14 for the Trojans while Peller contributed 13. Taylor got over half its points (39) on the night from beyond the arc going 13-30 (43.3 percent).
Bethel outrebounded the Trojans 44-29 and outscored them in the paint 28-8. Despite the advantage in the frontcourt, the Trojans nearly pulled a miracle rally in the final minute.
Taylor will now hope for an at-large bid to the NAIA DII National Tournament which will be announced Wednesday evening by 4pm.
